Volunteers

Volunteers have always played a vital role in the work of the Forres Community Woodlands Trust by working to maintain the paths and appearance of the woodlands.

Regular volunteer work parties take place in both the Muiry and Sanquhar Woodlands. The work parties in Sanquhar Woodlands are normally held on the 1st Saturday in the month, starting at 1000 and lasting for about 2 hours. The usual meeting place is the footpath entrance at Woodside Park.

Risk Assessments are to be carried out prior to Volunteer Work commencing. Points to consider for a Risk Assessment can be seen here.

Instructions for Volunteers who are Clearing Invasive Trees and Shrubs can be read here.

The volunteers efforts have recently been focused on clearing areas of sitka from Sanquhar Woods. Sitka is a non-native invasive species that has been spreading through the woods and thus limiting the growth of native species.

The photographs below show 2 groups of volunteers who helped clear areas of young sitka growing near to the Mannachie boundary of the woods.

Young Volunteers

Pupils from Pilmuir Primary School P6 class helped to plant over 100 young saplings in the area known as the Coffin Field. They can be seen here with adult volunteers from the Trust who showed them how and where to plant the saplings. The children will undoubtedly watch the saplings grow with great interest.

Tree Planting, May 2014

A small group of volunteers were out in mid May 2014 planting trees in the area beside the path to the South of the Coffin Field. These were native species and would enhance this corner of the woodlands.

The result of volunteer’s work

Volunteers in autumn 2013 cleared away large patches of bracken that was growing near paths beside the coffin field. This clearance has enabled bluebells to thrive in spring 2014 producing the lovely display seen here.

Power assistance

The Volunteers have access to some power tools to help with maintenance of the paths and tracks through the woods. Below you can see a volunteer using the Billy Goat Brush Cutter which the FCWT has a partial ownership with the Dava Way Association. The Brush Cutter is very effective in cutting down growth beside the paths and tracks.

Clearing the brash, February 2016

The felling of a band of trees in the Sanquahar Woodlands adjacent to the houses in Loch View and Woodside in early 2015 has left the area covered in brash. Lower growing shrubs and trees will shortly be re-planted in the area. A group of volunteers were out in early February 2016 to start the clearance work prior to the re-planting. The cheerful group who achieved a great deal on a Saturday morning can be seen here.

Young Volunteers helping Wild Flowers to grow in 2016

Volunteers, including the young ones seen here, have been helping to clear grass from certain areas of the Coffin Field to encourage growth of wild flowers and orchids as part of a long term programme to create a Wild Flower Meadow.

Volunteers clear paths in the woods in 2016

The rapid growth of vegetation results in the pathways through the woods becoming overgrown. Volunteers have been busy in Sanquhar, Muiry and Newforres Woods ensuring that the paths are kept clear for the many walkers and mountain bike riders who enjoy the woods. The Brush Cutter is a great help in speeding up the task but in many places, it requires hand loppers and shears.

Overgrown Path Clearing in progress

Clearing small Sitka, September 2016

A small group of volunteers continued the on going programme of removing the non-native Sitka which have self seeded from Sanquhar Woods. Their removal will allow native species to flourish as can be seen in the picture on the right.

Volunteers start work

Removing small Sitka

Flourishing native species

More Volunteer Clearing Work, January 2017

In early January 2017, volunteers continued the ongoing programme to remove alien conifers to make space for oaks, hazels and other native species that will be planted at the end of the winter.

Steve the Organiser

One of the cleared areas

Removing the brash

Volunteers at work

Getting to the bottom

Cleared of aliens

Removing some tree protectors, January 2018

The regular monthly work party of volunteers set out to remove some of the green tree protectors on the line of trees and bushes at the East side of the Coffin Field. This is a trial to see if the deer subsequently damage those trees without protectors. The removal of their tree protectors should enable the trees to strengthen and grow shoots at the lower levels.

Removing the protectors

Gathering the protectors and stakes

The pile grows

Planting trees and bushes, April 2018

The monthly volunteer work party spent a lovely sunny morning planting hawthorn and blackthorn in a rough cleared area near the entrance from Mannachie. The young bushes were a gift from Bam Nuttall who recently completed the building and works to create the new Forres Railway Station.

Gisela points the way

Starting Work

Steve shows how to do it

Carefully does it

Is this deep enough?

Encouraging Wild Flowers in the Coffin Field – May 2018

In early May 2018, a small group of Volunteers removed turf from parts of the Coffin Field to reduce the soil fertility before sowing wildflower seed.